Forgiven (Book 3, The Watchers Trilogy; Young Adult Paranormal Romance)

by S. J. West

  “But my grandmother said she met my father. My mother brought him to meet her after I was born.”

  “Once your mother learned she was pregnant, she came looking for your father but by that time he was long gone. I represented myself to her as being your father’s best friend and told her he didn’t want anything to do with her or you. She needed a shoulder to lean on at the time and I provided it. After she was shunned by her parents, I helped give her a new life so I could keep an eye on you.”

  “You’re the one who blackmailed Mr. Landry into giving her a new identity. You killed his wife to prove you could then you threatened the life of his daughter.” Some of the pieces were finally falling together. It was no wonder Mr. Landry chose suicide over having to face Lucifer again.

  Lucifer shrugged. “Human’s are easily manipulated through their feelings, especially through the safety of their children.”

  “Then who is my father?”

  Lucifer shook his head. “If I told you that, your fallen angels would have too many pieces of the puzzle and might figure out what I plan to do with you. I’m not that stupid, Lilly.”

  But he was prideful. That’s what Brand had told me. If I could play on his vanity, maybe he would slip up and reveal some shred of a clue to me.

  “We’ll never let you win. I won’t let you use me. I’d rather die first.”

  Lucifer came at me and grabbed me by the upper arms. Before he could say anything, I saw a vision inside my head so clearly I knew it had to be what Lucifer was thinking in that moment. His anger at my threat had caused him to let his guard down. He had been intentionally hiding his thoughts from me much like Uriel had the last time I met with him.

  In the vision, I saw myself standing on a snowy plain, the body of Lucas Hunter lying dead at my feet. It was daytime and I had my arms raised to the sky. Streams of fire shot from my hands into the sun filled sky and a white ribbon of light formed at the point of their convergence.

  Lucifer let go of me as quickly as he grabbed me but by that time it was too late. I felt his rage at my having seen what was inside his head and knew that if he could have afforded my death he would have killed me on the spot.

  “You’re lucky I need you,” he spat, slowly backing away from me. “Tell your mother I had to leave. Oh and by the way, I’m asking her to move in with me.”

  Lucifer turned and practically ran away from me.

  I stood on the porch and watched him get in his car, peeling the tires as he spun out of the trailer park, running away from the only human on Earth he was scared of.

  When I stepped back into the trailer, I told Utha Mae and my mom that I was feeling a little sick and needed to go home. In truth, I needed to speak to my friends about what just happened as quickly as I could.

  We didn’t even bother driving to Lakewood. Brand and Will phased us all to Brand’s house. I called Malcolm to come over so he could hear what I had to say too.

  Tara about lost it when we told her who Lucas Hunter really was.

  “And you didn’t find a way to tell me?” She yelled to Will and Brand. “What the hell were you thinking letting Lilly Rayne go out there with him alone?”

  “Tara,” I said, desperately wanting her to calm down, “he didn’t do anything to me. I think I scared him more than he scared me.”

  “It did look that way,” Brand agreed. “What happened when he touched you? It seemed to frighten him which is an expression I’ve only seen on Lucifer’s face once before.”

  “I saw myself,” I told them, visualizing the scene clearly in my mind. “I was standing in snow. Lucas Hunter’s body was lying at my feet, and I knew he was dead. I had my arms stretched out and projecting streams of fire into the sky. I saw a ribbon of white light begin to form and then he seemed to let me go because he was scared I might see more of his plans. I don’t think he thought I would be able to breach whatever mental dam he had built up to hide his thoughts from me.”

  Everyone was silent trying to think through what I had just told them.

  “Do you know what it means?” I asked my angels. Of anyone in the room, they would be the only ones who could decipher my vision’s meaning.

  “It sounds like,” Brand said, “Lucifer plans to possess you to cause a cosmic event of some sort. What the ribbon of light you saw is exactly? I’m not sure. But, it still doesn’t answer why he needs you specifically to make it happen.”

  “He wouldn’t tell me who my father is,” I said. “I asked him if he was my father but he laughed and basically said no.” I looked at Brand. “Do you still think the ring will work on him?”

  “What ring?” Will asked.

  Malcolm explained to everyone about King Solomon’s ring and how it had the power to control demons and jinn.

  “Do you think it will work on Lucifer?” Brand asked Will.

  “I don’t know for sure. He was never around Solomon while he had the ring. That might be one reason he left him alone. I say anything is worth a shot at this point.”

  Even I knew it was our Hail Mary pass. A last ditch effort to thwart Lucifer’s plans for me. I just hoped we would be able to find it in time.

  Chapter 5

  After breakfast the following morning, Brand and I got an unexpected visitor.

  We were just putting the last of the dishes in the dishwasher when a man phased into our living room. He was tall and muscular like Brand with skin the creamy color of milk chocolate. His hair was close cropped to his head and his eyebrows were low and almost hooded his striking hazel eyes. He wore a blue t-shirt with a picture of Jimmy Hendrix playing a guitar with angel wings spread wide on his back.

  I knew he had to be a Watcher not only because of his ability to phase but because of how handsome he was. For whatever reason, every Watcher I had met so far looked like a male supermodel. Not that I was complaining, but I made a mental note to ask about the reason why later.

  “Isaiah,” Brand said walking over to greet our guest to shake hands with him. “So glad you could make it. Have you had any luck finding Samyaza?”

  “Yes, he says he will meet with you.” Isaiah’s eyes found me like he sensed me in the room. “Is this Lilly?”

  I walked over and extended my hand to him. “Hi, Lilly Nightengale.”

  “Soon to be Cole though, right?” Isaiah said with an open smile. “Brand told me about the wedding. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.”

  “When will he meet with me?” Brand asked anxiously.

  “Today. He told me you should wait for him at my place. He didn’t give a specific time though so I’m not sure when he’ll show up.”

  Brand looked down at me and said, “Why don’t you call Malcolm? Today would be a good day for you to spend time with him. Especially since classes are cancelled for Veteran’s day.”

  My heart sank a little. I knew Brand wanted me to keep my promise to Malcolm to spend one day with him before I got married, but facing Malcolm so soon after I almost let him kiss me seemed like something a sadomasochist would torture themselves with.

  As if sensing my dilemma, Brand reminded me, “You only have four more days until the wedding. It’s probably best if you go ahead and get it over with.”

  I nodded and went to get my phone to call Malcolm.

  He answered on the first ring.

  “Dearest, is anything wrong?”

  “No. Brand needs to spend the day waiting to speak with Samyaza. He thought it might be a good time for me to keep my promise to you.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Before I knew it, Malcolm was standing in the living room too.

  He was wearing a white shirt unbuttoned to reveal his chest and a pair of white twill pants. His long black hair hung loosely around his face giving him the appearance of an untamed god of romance novel covers.

  “Malcolm,” Isaiah said looking at my friend like he was a curiosity. “I heard you’ve sworn off the blood of humans.”

  Malcolm’s lips twitched
into a smile but the twinkle in his eyes never appeared. “Dearest won’t let me if I want to keep her as my friend. So it’s either abstain from making any more human sacrifices or not have her in my life. I can’t live without her.”

  The way Isaiah looked at Malcolm I knew he was surprised to hear those types of words come from my friend.

  Brand took me in his arms and gave me a kiss which literally took my breath away. It was so unexpected I had to grab onto his arms and felt his hands fold in behind me to support my back so I wouldn’t fall. Usually in front of company, Brand was reserved in his physical affections, never wanting to make people uncomfortable around us.

  I knew instantly what was going on.

  Brand wanted to make sure Malcolm understood who I truly belonged with and that Malcolm might try to sweep me off my feet that day, but the love of my life knew without a shadow of a doubt I would return to him steadfast in my resolve to become his wife.

  When Brand finally let me come up for air, I felt lightheaded and slightly euphoric.

  “Have fun today,” he said before he and Isaiah phased to wait for Samyaza.

  “I will try my best to wipe that image from my mind,” Malcolm said, taking hold of one of my hands.

  Before I knew it we were standing in Malcolm’s house in Hawaii. The glass wall in front of me faced out framing the scenic view of the ocean. The wall had been slid open to catch the cool, gentle breeze gliding off the blue water bringing with it the smell of salt and sand.

  “Have you had breakfast?” Malcolm asked me.

  “Yes,” I told him, keeping my eyes on the undulating currents of the waves beyond the black sand Malcolm’s house was built next to.

  “Dearest, look at me.”

  I took a deep breath and forced myself to look up at Malcolm. He smiled down at me not trying to hide his joy at having me all to himself for one day.

  “Thank you for this. I know I might not deserve it because of how I’ve been acting lately. You had every right to refuse to be alone with me again, and I promise to be on my best behavior while we’re together today.”

  “You promise?” I asked, just to verify.

  Malcolm held up his right hand and solemnly pledged, “I promise to not do anything you don’t want me to do today. You have my word as your friend.”

  I felt my defenses go down knowing Malcolm would never make a promise to me he didn’t intend to keep.

  “So, what’s on the agenda?” I asked.

  “Do you like the beach? I know you said you didn’t like water but surely you like to go to the beach.”

  “I don’t like water that’s taller than me,” I said. “As long as I can stand up in it, I’m fine.”

  Malcolm grinned from ear to ear. “Perfect. Why don’t you go up to my room and look on the bed. I bought some swimsuits for you to choose from. At least one of them should fit,” he said eyeing my body up and down as if taking a mental measurement.

  When I went to Malcolm’s bedroom, I found an array of ten bathing suits positioned carefully on his circular, white satin sheeted bed. It was almost as if Malcolm had expected me to choose this day to spend with him.

  Half of the suits I immediately discarded because they were two piece bikinis. Some of them were skimpier than the babydoll negligee Tara and my mom had bought me for my wedding night. I surveyed the remaining suits and picked out the one which would cover the most flesh. It was a simple strapless, dark blue suit. A white robe cover-up, matching sun hat and flip flops completed the ensemble.

  When I went back downstairs, I found Malcolm had changed into a pair of red hot swim trunks. He stood with his arms akimbo staring out at the ocean view. I noticed a brown wicker picnic basket sitting by his feet.

  “I’m ready,” I said, breaking his concentration.

  He turned to me and smiled. “Which one did you pick? Please tell me it was the itsy bitsy tiny yellow bikini.”

  “You wish,” I laughed. “The blue one piece.”

  Malcolm rolled his eyes and groaned. “I knew you would pick that one. It barely shows anything, dearest. At least give a heartbroken man a break and flash a small bit of flesh.”

  “Do I have to remind you about seeing me naked in the shower? Don’t try to act all deprived. You’ve still seen more of me than Brand has yet.”

  “That is a day which is scorched into my memory forever, dearest. If I were human and allowed to die one day, it would be the last image in my mind to carry me on to the next world with a smile on my lips.”

  I just shook my head at Malcolm which made him chuckle.

  “How do we get down to the beach?”

  “Oh, we’re not going out there. The black sand makes it too hot to have any fun.” Malcolm held out one of his hands to me while picking up the picnic basket with the other. “I’m going to take you somewhere else.”

  Malcolm phased us to a secluded beach within a rocky cove. The sand was pinkish in color and the water an emerald green. A tall rocky cliff at our back shielded us from unwanted company. In fact, I wasn’t sure how a regular human would reach the area we were in without a boat or rock climbing gear.

  “Where are we?” I asked looking out at the clearest water I’d ever seen. It was so clear you could see the white sandy bottom of the ocean floor far in the distance.

  Malcolm walked over to a solitary oversized blue umbrella with two lounge chairs shaded underneath.

  “The Bahamas.”

  I joined him under the umbrella and took off my robe and hat. I felt more than saw Malcolm’s eyes on me but chose to ignore his oogling.

  “You probably shouldn’t go out until you put some sunscreen on,” he said to me, pulling out a bottle of it from the basket he brought.

  I held out my hand for the bottle and Malcolm pulled it back. “Why not let me put it on you, dearest? You might miss a spot.”

  “I think I can put it on myself,” I said, seeing through his obvious ploy. “But I’ll let you put some on my back. I don’t want to get burnt right before the wedding.”

  Malcolm sighed in disappointment but handed me the bottle. After spreading it on everywhere I could reach, I gave the bottle to Malcolm and pulled my hair to the front so he could spread it on my back.

  His warm hands glided smoothly against my skin massaging the lotion into my back and shoulders.

  “You have the fairest skin I’ve ever seen,” he said, “silky smooth to the touch.”

  I stood up abruptly and tossed my hair back.

  I looked up at Malcolm and squinted.

  “Last one in is a rotten egg,” I said and took off running towards the water.

  Malcolm phased into the water up to his navel.

  “You cheated!” I yelled, causing him to laugh.

  “If you’re going to play a game with me, dearest, you had best set the rules in place first. Otherwise, I’ll always find a way to win.”

  I phased in next to him which caught him off guard. I then unceremoniously pushed him into the water. He came up sputtering. His long air completely matted to his face.

  “And that’s what you get for cheating,” I told him.

  He slung his hair back away from his face and slapped the water in front of me causing it to spray in my direction. Not to be out done, I did the same which set off another contest on who could make the largest splash. Malcolm won of course when he phased into mid-air and did a belly flop into the water completely drenching me.

  For over two hours we played in the surf, looked for sea shells along the shoreline and then finally lounged underneath the blue umbrella to eat the food Malcolm had brought in the picnic basket. After the meal, I laid down on the lounge chair letting the gentle ocean breeze and the sound of the water rushing in over the shore lull me into a sound sleep.

  Sometime later as I began to wake up, I felt someone gently trace the outline of my face with the tips of their fingers. As I cleared away the fog of sleep, I knew that someone had to be Malcolm. His fingers languidly traveled over my fo
rehead circling around to lightly brush one cheek then continued down to my chin and up the other cheek to end up back where they started. He slid his fingers across the bridge of my nose then lightly passed them over one lip and then the next. He let his hand slide down the slope of my neck stopping at a point just above my breast. I felt his hand tremble slightly against my skin.

  My eyelids fluttered open. I saw that he was leaned over me with one arm propped above my head staring at his hand as if he were trying to decide what my reaction would be if he explored my body further. He must have felt me watching him because his gaze soon found mine. I knew what he was about to do as he leaned down into me but couldn’t seem to muster the will to make him stop.

  When his lips touched mine, I heard him release an excited whimper of pleasure. He plunged his hands into my hair on either side of my head tenderly holding me as he gently tasted my lips. I felt his silky tongue part my lips intent on deepening the kiss and felt the first of my tears fall from the corners of my eyes. Malcolm pulled away having felt the hot wetness of my cries against his hand. He bent down and tenderly kissed the tears away.

  “Lilly, why are you crying?”

  “This isn’t right, Malcolm,” I said, shaking my head.

  “Of course it is,” he murmured, planting small kisses all over my face. “You love me.”

  “But I love Brand more.”

  Malcolm looked down at me. I wanted to wipe away the hurt and disappointment I saw in his eyes but didn’t know how to.

  “If we still had four years, do you think you could come to love me more than him?”

  Without even having to think about the answer, I shook my head. “No.”

  Malcolm sighed in resignation, resting his forehead against mine accepting my answer as the truth.